Overcoming Babel! by AiG Executive Director Ken Ham

Transcription

1 A monthly newsletter equipping Christians to uphold the authority of the Bible from the very first verse OCTOBER 2000 Overcoming Babel! by AiG Executive Director Ken Ham VOLUME 7 ISSUE 10 The serpent--with a man s head in its mouth--loomed above me, sending a shudder down my spine. I gazed at this intriguing statue while walking the grounds of the University at Cuernavaca in Mexico. This serpent is also found on the university s logo, and appears in murals and other pictures throughout the campus. The legend of this serpent has come down from the pagan Aztec religion. Apparently the serpent is the god who gives wisdom--the good god. But there is another god, the bad one, who brings rain and catastrophe. As I pondered this, it hit me that this depiction could be a perversion of the real history of what happened in the Garden of Eden when the serpent tempted Eve (offering wisdom). The Creator God then judged that rebellion. What a sad heritage for the people of Mexico to be told that the serpent is the good god. This was just one of the many experiences I had in this country that has given me an even greater burden to see the true creation/gospel message proclaimed widely around the world. And of course, Darwinian evolution is taught as fact in the education systems of America and Mexico, as it is in so many other countries. It was certainly a culture shock as my wife Mally and I flew into Mexico City and then drove south to the city of Cuernavaca continued next page A hint of Eden

2 Page 2 for a seminar at the University, and also to preach in services at an evangelical church. As we traveled around Mexico City and then on to our destination, our hearts went out to the Mexican people, most of whom have a much lower standard of living than we do. As we thought about the millions of souls in one of the largest cities in the world, God s Word in Romans 10:14 tugged at our hearts: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? I was told that a number of strategic people were present at the seminar - pastors and other influential leaders in the church in Mexico. It was a very emotional moment when a man who was finishing his training to be a teacher came up to me during the break to tell me (through a translator) that he didn t know what to do now. I asked him to explain. He said that he was a Christian, but had NEVER heard anything like the messages I had given. He didn t even know that evolution was wrong and that Christians could believe Genesis. His education was very evolution-based. This future teacher went on to say that he was thrilled with what I said; it made so much sense to him. But now he didn t know what to do. How does he teach? What can he say? He didn t want to compromise--it was ripping him apart. The question time could have gone on for hours - people asked question after question, very similar to those we receive all over the world. There is so much confusion among Christians everywhere about what they should believe concerning Genesis. How thankful these believers were to have questions answered and their faith built up! People were also hungry for the materials we have produced in Spanish. We have only just embarked on our big push into Spanish-speaking countries, and already we have many materials in the pipeline. The few resources we were able to offer on this visit were in great demand. On Sunday morning I spoke to around 4000 people at two morning services. Afterwards, there was a real jam as continued next page

3 Page 3 people were packed like sardines as they tried to get to the book tables to obtain materials and sign up for our new Spanish newsletter. I was told that 17 people stood up in the services to publicly confess to having received Christ that morning. And how thrilled we were when an editor associated with the largest Christian magazine in Mexico (100,000-copy distribution) asked us to provide two pages each issue that would be dedicated to teaching people the truth about Genesis and the creation/evolution controversy. I was told that this is the only Christian publication that is currently accepted in secular bookshops in Mexico. As the translator explained what this young editor wanted from us, there was no way we could say no to this request. So we have committed ourselves to providing, at no charge, two pages for this bimonthly, and soon to be monthly, Spanish-language Christian magazine. What a blessing it was to receive a letter from the organizer of our meetings. Even though Spanish is his main language, he wrote the following in (somewhat broken) English: Thank you for your prayers, organization, support, time, money, etc. Thank you to each one of you. We pray and hope in the Lord that brother Ken s back is fine by now and we will continue praying for all of you, your families, and the ministry. You break some records around here. We have received preachers, teachers, and evangelists in our church on Sundays, but preaching on creationism broke the record of sells of cassettes. In one morning 700 cassettes of brother Ken s message were sold. Around 300 people sign for Respuestas [AiG s new Spanish newsletter], even though lots did not sign because they needed to wait in line, and because of too many people and little space. Well... we did not expect this. (Lack of faith) I received s from people in Guatemala and from Peru asking for information about you. They want to have conferences on creationism. Maybe we can start praying for you to make a trip giving conferences in Mexico (Monterrey and Mexico continued next page

4 Page 4 City in the two biggest churches there, each one of 8 to 10 thousand people). Then stop in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru and Argentina. We can also contact Brasil and Venezuela. Well... let s just pray. I know it will happen sooner that we think. I got the vision of your ministry and I am very excited. I will give some of your material to take to Cuba. I will write you soon. My translator for this series of meetings was a young lady whose mother is a U.S. citizen and the father a Mexican. She has such a burden for the people of Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. Katia has made the decision to move to join us in Kentucky to head up our Spanish ministry and co-ordinate our translating efforts in this language spoken around the world. Isn t it fascinating that the reason we need a translation ministry is because of what we read in Genesis 11? Because of man s rebellion at Babel, God gave different languages to cause man to spread out around the world, instead of working together to rebel against God. As I visited the pyramids built by the Indians in Mexico, and thought about the pyramids we see in other parts of the world, they reminded me that people had spread out around the world from Babel, taking their pagan religion with them. We can see a remnant of what they knew in the past within their cultures (for example, the serpent that supposedly brings wisdom). In fact, various Indian tribes around the world, Australian aborigines, and other cultures have legends handed down from their ancestors that sound like the Creation/Flood accounts in Genesis. These legends are changed versions of the true record in the Bible. But praise the Lord we are able to take the creation/gospel message into other languages to restore the truth they once had and preach the true history of the world, and the true Gospel, so people can be saved. Pray for our Spanish ministry and for other translation ministries that AiG is involved in. Thank you for helping us carry out these and many other missionary projects at an ever-expanding level. Ken Ham spoke to thousands in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and distributed free copies of AiG s Creation magazine and Cain s wife booklet--in Spanish!

5 Refute evolution in your school! The topic of the teaching of evolution in America s public schools is an issue that is not cooling down. (See article on p. 21). Among the many resources found in our enclosed special offers section is one tool that thousands of AiG supporters have already been using as an outreach to their local public schools: Refuting Evolution. This is the most recent critique of arguments that are often presented to students in public schools as evidence for evolution. In just over a year, well over 200,000 copies are already in print, with many thousands being distributed through sidewalk evangelism at public schools. Because almost all sidewalks that abut school property are considered a public forum, these spots can be a wonderful setting for reaching public school students. This right is subject only to limited controls that would be in the interest of public safety and order; therefore the government s ability to regulate free speech on such sidewalks is minimal.* Not only do we urge you to buy Refuting Evolution for yourself, but that you purchase multiple copies to hand out to public school students and teachers. Citizens in Kansas are purchasing thousands of copies to pass out to citizens in preparation for the November 7 election. Page 5 Usually selling for $10.99, this book can be purchased from AiG (through a very generous subsidy by our publisher Master Books) at a greatly reduced price so that you could consider the distribution of the book as a creation evangelism opportunity at your public school. Encourage your church to get involved and purchase bulk quantities, and then have church members pass the books out to students as they leave the school grounds. Here are the subsidized prices for Refuting Evolution (please note that these prices are only available to supporters who inform us that they will be purchasing copies for public school students and their teachers**): * Single copies (1-9): $1.50 each, plus $5 postage * copies: $1.25 each, plus 30% postage * 96 or more: $1.00 each, plus 20% postage For this special offer, you must call our customer service number at to orde--please do not fill out the order form in this newsletter. We thank you for your consideration to join us in reaching students and teachers in public schools with a continued next page

6 Page 6 unique tool that reveals the bankruptcy of evolutionary thinking. This kind of special outreach is even more important today, given that evolutionists are teaching evolution as fact with even greater fervor. One of the reasons we are offering Refuting Evolution again at these prices is through the strong urging of citizens in the state of Kansas who are concerned about the ouster of school board members who tried to mildly de-emphasize the teaching of evolution in its public schools. (See related story, p. 21) Residents of Kansas are especially encouraged to take advantage of this book offer as the November 7 general election looms for the state school board. For the state of Kansas, AiG and Master Books have agreed to extend the discount to our supporters there so that they can pass out the books to anyone in the state, not just public schools students and teachers. We have a number of supporters in the Kansas City and Wichita areas, for example, and we hope that they will take advantage of these discounts and will order hundreds of copies to pass out in their churches and other locations. * From the publication Witnessing: the New Frontiers, published by the Christian Law Association, who cite the following court ruling: Bacon V. Bradly-Bourbonnains High School District, 707 F. Supp C. D. Ill ** Kansas citizens--see p. 21 to learn how you can get this book discount to use in a special creation evangelism way. Museum progress report We are right in the midst of the complicated task of planning our Creation Museum and Family Discovery Center. The story line for the museum is being completed as we prepare for groundbreaking next Spring. The future site of the Creation Museum! Many of you have contacted us desiring to donate your professional skills, labor, and services for the museum project. Even if you have previously contacted us, please give Skip Tilton a call at , ext Already, a major architectural firm, A.M. Kinney Associates of Cincinnati, has donated a significant portion of its architectural services to the building project. Go to the Web site of for the architect s drawings of the museum. Here are three quick ways for you to keep up to date on the museum. 1. Go to 2. Sign up for our news service at list/subscribe.cfm 3. Call our information hot line on extension 360 ( )

7 Campaign of distortions leads to school board shake-up in Kansas! Page 7 Two members of the Kansas board of education who voted last year to adopt new science standards that mildly deemphasized evolution lost their bid in August to return to their posts. Another Republican candidate who supported their position was also defeated in the statewide primary. For the past year, almost everyone in the mainstream, secular media has misrepresented what happened in August 1999 when the state school board approved new science standards, incorrectly reporting that evolution had been eliminated from the state science standards. Liberal activists also joined in the misinformation campaign, declaring that evolution was banned from the classrooms outright (some even falsely claiming that creationism was to be taught now). As we reported on our Web site* and in this newsletter, the concept of evolution is actually mentioned a few times in the newly approved document. Nevertheless, publications like Time magazine continue to repeat the falsehood that evolution had been removed from the schools of Kansas (even after being contacted by AiG to correct its misreporting). The perceived backwardness of the people of Kansas also became the fodder for latenight TV comics. Last August s vote will probably tip the balance and lead to a change in the science standards that will now most likely emphasize the teaching of evolutionary concepts. Last year s vote was 6-4 to approve the current standards, but the three moderates who won in August have stated that if they defeat their Democratic challengers in next month s general election (November 7), they will change the science standards to be even more evolutionary in thrust. Many in the secular media have misrepresented other aspects of what truly has occurred in Kansas over the past year. For example, the state standards approved by the board are not mandatory for school districts to follow-- local districts are free to teach science in their own way, and indeed, many have continued to teach evolution as if nothing had happened. AiG has been contacted by concerned citizens in Kansas to inquire about the kinds of materials we can offer to help them educate the electorate about the true nature of the evidence for evolution. We know of one individual who will be purchasing hundreds of copies of Refuting Evolution to pass out to church members so that they will be better informed when they go to the polls. Please see p. 19 on how you can purchase this excellent critique of evolution at a heavily subsidized price when you agree to distribute copies to students and teachers in our nation s public schools. *

8 Page 8 Answers on radio! We are pleased to list below the many stations that have been recently added to our radio family that broadcast our Answers...with Ken Ham daily program. For a full list of the 260 stations in America that air our program, go to station_list.asp. If you notice in that log New stations on board! We are happy to announce that the following stations are now carrying our Answers...with Ken Ham radio feature: (ROS=Rotating Schedule) ALASKA Anchorage KATB-FM 89.3 MHz MF 2:00pm ARKANSAS Blytheville KBCM-FM 88.1 MHz MF ROS Fayetteville KAYH-FM 89.3 MHz MF 8:00pm Forrest City KARH-FM 88.1 MHz MF ROS CALIFORNIA KJQI-FM/ MHz MF ROS Fremont KFAX-AM 1100 khz MF 3:00pm Riverside KPRO-AM 1570 khz MF ROS San Bernardino KKLA-AM 1240 khz MF TBD INDIANA Fort Wayne WFCV-AM 1090 khz MF 7:12am North Vernon WJLR-FM 91.5 MHz MF 6:08am/ 9:10pm GEORGIA Dublin WAWH-FM 88.3 MHz MF ROS MARYLAND Cumberland WCBC-FM MHz MF ROS MINNESOTA International Falls KXBR-FM 91.9 MHz MF TBD MISSISSIPPI Natchez WASM-FM 91.1 MHz MF ROS OKLAHOMA KKVO-FM 90.9 MHz MF ROS Altus KJCM-FM MHz MF ROS Weatherford KAYM-FM 90.5 MHz MF ROS PENNSYLVANIA Pittsburgh WWNL-AM 1080 khz MF ROS TENNESSEE Bristol WMBJ-FM 88.3 MHz MF ROS Ripley WAUV-FM 89.7 MHz MF ROS TEXAS Tulia KTUE-AM 1260 khz MF 7:45am VIRGINIA Spotslvania WJYA-FM 89.3 MHz MF ROS WEST VIRGINIA Beckley WJLS-AM 560 khz 7x ROS WEST VIRGINIA Mount Hope HOPE-IM MHz MF ROS WEST VIRGINIA Point Pleasant WPCN-FM 88.1 MHz MF TBD WISCONSIN Milwaukee VCY-SM MHz MF 5:14pm that our program is not heard in your area, you might be able to change this yourself-- and it will not take very much effort! We suggest that you hand-deliver a CD sampling of our radio broadcast to your local Christian station. Our program is produced on compact disc, containing 45 programs, with each volume answering questions that many people have about the authority and accuracy of the Bible. To receive a free copy of the CD to drop off to your radio station s manager, please don t contact AiG, but call our radio representatives, Ambassador Advertising in California (714) , and ask for John Williamson at ext John will send you the CD and will offer you brief instructions on how to best approach your station manager. Through the efforts of dozens of our supporters nationwide, many radio stations have been added to our network of stations. We extend a very big thank you to them!

9 Auction and golf tourney to benefit Creation Museum Professional golfer Ted Schulz will be hosting a banquet/auction followed by a charity golf tournament to benefit AiG s future Cincinnati-area Creation Museum, October in Louisville, Kentucky. The Sunday evening banquet (only $10 for dinner and talk by AiG s Ken Ham) will also feature a silent auction of sports memorabilia and other items. If you have an autographed sports item to donate to the auction, call Jared at (859) ext. 456 before sending it. He can also take your reservation for the banquet, to be held in the fellowship hall of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville. The following morning, October 23, Mr. Schulz, former winner of the Los Angeles Open, will host his second Missing Links Golf Tournament to benefit AiG at Louisville s Lake Forest Country Club. Call Jared at ext. 456 for details. Stewardship and Trust Services Estate taxes Page 9 Federal regulations, as they are currently written, require the payment of estate taxes when an individual, without a surviving spouse, dies with a net worth over $675,000. Net worth includes life insurance, retirement plans, and all assets. If your net worth is in excess of the estate tax limits, please realize that the tax laws are such that part of your estate goes to your heirs and part goes to the government. However, if you have a favorite charity, or charities, tax laws allow you to redirect all or almost all of the money that would go to the government to your favorite not-for-profit charity, like AiG. A simple charitable trust can accomplish this. Make sure that the portion you must give away is given to support your interests, not the interests of our often liberal U.S. Congress. Call Paul Laude, CFP with any questions at ext Prayer points Please pray that AiG s final construction team will be assembled soon, and that groundbreaking for the Creation Museum and new headquarters will take place in the Spring of that God will bless the new seminar season as it resumes this month (see calendar on p. 23). that AiG s new Spanish-language outreaches will be effective in proclaiming the Gospel.